Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age. (Matthew 28:19-20, NLT)
The Great Commission is (or at least should be) the cornerstone of evangelical churches. As such, we should take a serious look at our churches and ask the following question: are we really doing what is says? Some churches place a strong emphasis on evangelism and do whatever it takes to share to Good News. That is great, but is teaching and training young disciples neglected? Other churches place a strong emphasis on the teaching ministries and desire to see people grow in thie Christian walks. Again, that is to be applauded; however, the focus sometimes shifts to the people within the church and those who do not know Christ are effectively forgotten.
The above passage from Matthew says “make disciples.” To do this, we are to share the Good News and baptize those who put their faith and trust in Christ. We are then to teach these new disciples so that they can learn and grow in their faith. It really is not an “either/or” scenario, but is “both/and.” True discipleship is, at base, a two-part process. Are focusing on both parts?
